Is it safe to eat ground beef that looks gray?

The science behind color
Ground beef should have its red colour with oxymyoglobin, a compound that forms when the myoglobin of the meat reacts with oxygen. It is this interaction that gives fresh meat its attractive red surface. However, it is normal for the ground beef to appear grey inside the package, where the oxygen has not penetrated. This lack of oxygen exposure gives a color that may seem worrying at first glance, but is generally harmless.

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